In 1974, the underground burial chamber of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shihuang, was discovered; it included more than 7,000 life-sized figures and more than 10,000 weapons. The First Emperor (259-210 BCE) was obsessed with immortality and wanted to find a way to conquer death. In order to achieve this, he constructed his own massive tomb where he would be protected and guarded by life-size warriors in full armor and weapons, chariots, and horses.

Discover & Go!

The exhibition of China's Terracotta Warriors at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is happening right now! Don't miss the chance to visit the exhibition, which will last from February 22 - May 27, 2013. As a San Mateo County library card holder, you can obtain free admission to the Asian Art Museum by utilizing Discover & Go! Simply enter the barcode on your library card and pin number. You will have instant access to museum passes for admission to many Bay Area museums and cultural institutions! Remember to select the date you would like to attend and you can print your passes from home or at the library. Also, please consult the Asian Art Museum’s Terracotta Warrior's page for more information concerning pricing for the exhibition which is separate from the main admission to the museum.

Preview the Exhibition

This video previews the exhibition at the museum and includes the history and interviews concerning the Terracotta Warriors.

This video shows just how fragile and ancient these artifacts are by showing you a glimpse of how one warrior is unpacked and mounted for the exhibition.

Terra Cotta Warriors at the Library

You can also catch a docent lecture on theTerra Cotta Warriors at these libraries.